Satyendra Nath Bose did his MSc (1915) from the University of Calcutta and obtained DSc (hc) from Allahabad, Calcutta, Delhi and Jadavpur Universities and Indian Statistical Institute. His specialization was in Quantum Statistics, Statistical Theories, and Relativity. He was Reader (1921-26), Professor and Head (1927-44), Department of Physics, University of Dacca, now in Bangladesh; Khaira Professor of Physics (1945-56), University of Calcutta; and Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati (1956-58).

Academic and Research Achievements: Bose's early work (Philosophical Magazine, 1918) was on 'Saha-Bose equation of state'. He showed that photons had a startling 'new' property of being strictly identical, which led to a new expression for the thermodynamics properties of an assembly of photons, the well-known Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. This, in turn, led to the correct thermodynamics of the photon gas. This was a new synthesis between the wave and particle properties of photons, which laid the foundation for quantum field theory. This work was translated by Einstein and published. His other major contributions related to: (i) D2 — statistics; (ii) total reflection of radiowaves in the ionosphere by solution of the classical Lorentz equation; (iii) Dirac equations and Zeeman effect; (iv) deduction of the integral equation in the momentum space for Schrodinger's wave equation for the hydrogen atom; and (v) Unified Field Theory.

Other Contributions: As member of Rajya Sabha, Bose contributed, in no small measure, to the cause of science in general and Indian science in particular. He was a pioneer in expounding science in vernacular (Bengali).

Awards and Honours: Bose was President, Physics and Mathematics Sections (1929) and General President (1944) of Indian Science Congress; Fellow of Royal Society of London; Fellow / Member of Indian Physical Society (1945-48), and Bangiya Prijnan Parishad (Founder President); President of INSA (1949-50); Deshikottama of Visva Bharati (1961); and National Professor of Physics (1958-74).

Indian National Science Academy has instituted 'The Satyendra Nath Bose Medal' in his memory.